Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska, 43337 [2015-17968]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 140 / Wednesday, July 22, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
salmon fisheries opening prior to May 1,
2016 (80 FR 25611, May 5, 2015).
The RA determined that the best
available information indicated that
Chinook salmon catch to date and
fishery effort supported the above
inseason actions recommended by the
states of Washington and Oregon. The
states manage the fisheries in state
waters adjacent to the areas of the U.S.
exclusive economic zone in accordance
with these Federal actions. As provided
by the inseason notice procedures of 50
CFR 660.411, actual notice of the
described regulatory actions was given,
prior to the time the action was
effective, by telephone hotline numbers
206–526–6667 and 800–662–9825, and
by U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners
broadcasts on Channel 16 VHF–FM and
2182 kHz.
Classification
The Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds that good
cause exists for this notification to be
issued without affording prior notice
and opportunity for public comment
under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) because such
notification would be impracticable. As
previously noted, actual notice of the
regulatory actions was provided to
fishers through telephone hotline and
radio notification. These actions comply
with the requirements of the annual
management measures for ocean salmon
fisheries (80 FR 25611, May 5, 2015),
the West Coast Salmon Fishery
Management Plan (Salmon FMP), and
regulations implementing the Salmon
FMP, 50 CFR 660.409 and 660.411. Prior
notice and opportunity for public
comment was impracticable because
NMFS and the state agencies had
insufficient time to provide for prior
notice and the opportunity for public
comment between the time Chinook
salmon catch and effort assessments and
projections were developed and
fisheries impacts were calculated, and
the time the fishery modifications had
to be implemented in order to ensure
that fisheries are managed based on the
best available scientific information,
ensuring that conservation objectives
and ESA consultation standards are not
exceeded. The AA also finds good cause
to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness required under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3), as a delay in effectiveness of
these actions would allow fishing at
levels inconsistent with the goals of the
Salmon FMP and the current
management measures.
These actions are authorized by 50
CFR 660.409 and 660.411 and are
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:06 Jul 21, 2015
Jkt 235001
exempt from review under Executive
Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 17, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–17969 Filed 7–21–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 140918791–4999–02]
RIN 0648–XE064
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch
in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf
of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the
West Yakutat District of the Gulf of
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary
to prevent exceeding the 2015 total
allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch
in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), July 17, 2015, through
2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act. Regulations governing
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2015 total allowable catch (TAC)
of Pacific ocean perch in the West
Yakutat District of the GOA is 2,014
metric tons (mt) as established by the
final 2015 and 2016 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the (80
FR 10250, February 25, 2015).
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
43337
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
determined that the 2015 TAC of Pacific
ocean perch in the West Yakutat District
of the GOA will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed fishing
allowance of 1,914 mt, and is setting
aside the remaining 100 mt as bycatch
to support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch
in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.
After the effective date of this closure
the maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
Classification
This action responds to the best
available information recently obtained
from the fishery. The Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
(AA), finds good cause to waive the
requirement to provide prior notice and
opportunity for public comment
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
impracticable and contrary to the public
interest. This requirement is
impracticable and contrary to the public
interest as it would prevent NMFS from
responding to the most recent fisheries
data in a timely fashion and would
delay the closure of directed fishing for
Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat
District of the GOA. NMFS was unable
to publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became
available as of July 16, 2015.
The AA also finds good cause to
waive the 30-day delay in the effective
date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
the reasons provided above for waiver of
prior notice and opportunity for public
comment.
This action is required by § 679.20
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 17, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–17968 Filed 7–17–15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\22JYR1.SGM
22JYR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 140 (Wednesday, July 22, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 43337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17968]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 140918791-4999-02]
RIN 0648-XE064
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific
Ocean Perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch
in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action
is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2015 total allowable catch of
Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 17, 2015,
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H
of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2015 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in the
West Yakutat District of the GOA is 2,014 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the (80 FR 10250, February 25, 2015).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2015 TAC
of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA will
soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing
a directed fishing allowance of 1,914 mt, and is setting aside the
remaining 100 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance has been
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific
ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.
After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable
amounts at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.
Classification
This action responds to the best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior
notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set
forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is impracticable and
contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and
contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from
responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and
would delay the closure of directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in
the West Yakutat District of the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a
notice providing time for public comment because the most recent,
relevant data only became available as of July 16, 2015.
The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the
effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is
based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and
opportunity for public comment.
This action is required by Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 17, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-17968 Filed 7-17-15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P